Ranong: The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment led a subcommittee to inspect the site and environmental conditions of the Land Bridge project, emphasizing that all steps must be based on scientific principles, protecting the environment while simultaneously benefiting the public.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Raveewan Phuridej, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Chair of the Sub-Committee on Environmental Impact Assessment of the Landbridge Project, led the sub-committee, comprised of experts from various fields and representatives from relevant agencies, along with Mr. Bannarak Sermthong, Secretary-General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONREP), and other officials, to Ranong and Chumphon provinces on July 3-4, 2026. The purpose of the visit was to verify facts on the ground, monitor the natural resources and environmental situation, and gather empirical data to support the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Gulf of Thailand-Andaman Sea transportation infrastructure project (Landbridge).
This field visit began in Ranong Province, where the subcommittee listened to information, concerns, and opinions from officials at Laem Son National Park before surveying the Ao Khai area and Ranong Port to assess marine resources, ecosystems, and community land use. Meanwhile, in Chumphon Province, the committee followed up on the project area, evaluating the site conditions, land use, environmental impacts, and potential impacts on the local population in a comprehensive manner.
Dr. Raweewan stated that the Subcommittee on Environment, one of the three subcommittees under the committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, is responsible for conducting a comprehensive environmental impact study of the project. This site visit inspected both coastal areas related to land reclamation and inland areas along the railway and motorway routes, particularly where the project may pass through important conservation areas. On this occasion, the subcommittee received information on measures being prepared to protect and mitigate the impact on natural resources and wildlife, especially rare and vulnerable species. It is necessary to establish careful and scientifically sound measures to ensure that project development can proceed alongside the conservation of natural resources.
The information gathered from the field visits to both provinces will be reported by the subcommittee to the committee studying approaches to driving the infrastructure development project for connecting the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge project).
This information will be used to formulate academic recommendations, including the determination of appropriate environmental protection and mitigation measures to safeguard natural resources, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of the people, while simultaneously supporting the development of infrastructure that creates economic opportunities for the country based on balance and sustainability.